Ministers expecting backlash after Network Rail head’s £1m payoff

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Iain Coucher received a pay-off of £1.075m after eight years at Network RailDavid Jones/PA

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Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, realises the huge payoff for Iain Coucher will 'stick in the gullet' of every taxpayer and farepayerRui Vieira/PA

Sam Coates

Last updated at 9:49AM, June 23 2011

Ministers are bracing for a public backlash against excessive executive pay
for public servants today when Network Rail announces that Iain Coucher, its
former chief executive, received a payoff of more than £1 million.

Mr Coucher, who announced his resignation from the publicly funded rail
maintenance company a year ago, earned £1.45 million last year, making him
one of the highest paid public servants. He accepted bonuses totaling
£641,000, despite a plea from Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, to be
“sensitive” about taxpayer-funded bonuses at a time of public austerity.